Established 1961 15 Sports Sunday, October 15, 2017 Man United contains Liverpool in 0-0 draw in Premier League Mourinho’s cautious approach frustrate Liverpool LIVERPOOL: Manchester United produced another change formation or make more attacking substitutions. resolute containing job at Anfield to hold Liverpool to a “When at home and you don’t move anything, I don’t 0-0 draw in the Premier League yesterday, as the “cla- know,” Mourinho said. “I was waiting for that. sico” of English soccer proved a let-down once again. “The second half was a bit of a game of chess. My The match-up between England’s two most decorated opponent didn’t open the door for me to win the game.” teams turned into a dull stalemate, just like 12 months There will be critics who’ll argue United, with its heavy ago at the same stadium. spending of recent years and having scored 21 league And just like last season, United had David De Gea goals already this season, should have attacked a to thank for preserving a point. In one of the few gen- Liverpool defense that has been fragile. uine openings created all match, the Spain goalkeeper United, which stayed unbeaten, dropped points for stuck out his left boot to turn away Joel Matip’s effort only the second time this season and failed to score for from point-blank range. the first time. It was Otherwise, Liverpool reminiscent of the 0-0 controlled possession draw almost exactly 12 but couldn’t pierce the months ago, but at least wall of white United jer- ‘Clasico’ of there was some goal- seys set up by coach mouth action this time. Jose Mourinho, whose English soccer, a De Gea’s save was players carried out his stunning, sticking out his game plan to the letter. let-down again left leg to keep out “For sure you could not Matip’s side-footed play this way at effort. Mohamed Salah Liverpool,” Liverpool then blazed the loose manager Juergen Klopp ball wide. Later in the said, “but it’s OK for first half and at the other Manchester United.” end, Romelu Lukaku was Mourinho usually adopts a cautious approach in big denied by Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet after away matches and he reverted to type again, stationing the league’s top scorer finally found himself with space Ander Herrera in front of United’s back four alongside in the penalty box. Nemanja Matic and ensuring wingers Anthony Martial The crowd noise was deafening for the early stages and Ashley Young screened their full backs behind but it quietened as United become more comfortable them. toward the end of the first half. After the break, it was It got the intended result, though Mourinho said largely forgettable, although Liverpool remained on United came for a win but retreated in the second half the offensive and looked dangerous whenever ANFIELD: Liverpool’s Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum (L) vies with Manchester United’s because he couldn’t make any midfield substitutions to Brazilian pair Firmino and Coutinho linked up. It is Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera (C) and Manchester United’s Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku freshen up his team with Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini only one win in the last five league games for (R) during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester and Michael Carrick out injured. Liverpool, which missed the pace and movement of United. — AFP Mourinho said he was also surprised Klopp didn’t injured winger Sadio Mane. — AP Zaha inspires Eriksen earns Palace to Tottenham first Chelsea win home win of season LONDON: Christian Eriksen gave Tottenham Hotspur a long- LONDON: Wilfried Zaha returned to inspire bottom club overdue first Premier League victory at their temporary Crystal Palace to their first win and first goals of the Wembley Stadium with the only goal in a laboured 1-0 win Premier League campaign with a shock 2-1 defeat of over struggling Bournemouth yesterday. champions Chelsea yesterday. Hodgson’s side finally Mauricio Pochettino’s side were in danger of becoming the broke their seven-game goal drought when Yohan only club in English Football League history to win their first Cabaye’s 11th-minute shot deflected in off Cesar four away league games without tasting victory in any of their Azpilicueta, prompting a huge outpouring of relief around opening four at home after a drab first half. Selhurst Park. Danish playmaker Eriksen ensured that did not happen, Tiemoue Bakayoko levelled with an 18th-minute header however, with a well-taken 47th-minute goal to keep but Zaha-back in the side for the first time since injuring Tottenham in third place with 17 points from their opening his knee in the opening-day defeat to Huddersfield- eight games - five behind leaders Manchester City. secured the victory with the second on the stroke of half- The fluent football Tottenham have producedaway from time. Palace remain rooted at the foot of the table despite home was again missing, though, as Harry Kane’s prolific run this notable win but Hodgson’s side were handed a much- LONDON: Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha, left, vies for the ball with Chelsea’s Cesar of scoring for club and country came to an end. Kane, who needed boost by a victory that revived memories of last Azpilicueta during their English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and had netted nine times in his previous five games, had a goal season’s dramatic survival bid. Chelsea at Selhurst Park stadium in London, yesterday. — AP rightly ruled out for offside and wasted another great chance For Chelsea, this was an early blow in their efforts to to settle his side’s nerves before being withdrawn in readiness defend their Premier League title. Having gone into the for Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid. international break on the back of a home defeat to lead- the other flank after James McArthur had sent Townsend Chelsea a route back into the match. Tiemoue Bakayoko Bournemouth remained second from bottom but could argue ers Manchester City, a second loss leaves them already heading towards the byline. produced a good downward header from Cesc Fabregas’s they were worthy of a point. They had the better chances trailing Pep Guardiola’s side by nine points after just eight corner but the way the French international was allowed to before the break and were always a threat late on with former matches. Palace manager Hodgson insisted he had seen PALACE FORTUNE drift away from marker Van Aanholt was frustrating for Spurs favourite Jermain Defoe causing anxiety in the home positive signs from his players on the training pitch during The England international pulled the ball back towards Hodgson. Chelsea may have been back in the game but defence after coming on as a substitute.—Reuters the international break despite the dismal run of early-sea- Cabaye and while there was a huge amount of luck in the Antonio Conte’s side were far from convincing. son form. And the home side’s approach during the open- way the ball bounced off the Frenchman, against David Alvaro Morata was sidelined with a hamstring injury ing stages of the games suggested the manager had done Luiz, and then again off Cabaye, before deflecting past and deputy Michy Batshuayi struggled to make an impres- a good job in restoring confidence to a side that has Thibaut Courtois via a hefty deflection from Cesar sion as the focal point of the Blues attack. And while endured the worst start in Premier League history. It Azpilicueta, Hodgson’s side were grateful for any fortune Fabregas was Chelsea’s most threatening player when he Matches on TV that came their way. advanced from central midfield, it was clear the industry of helped that Zaha was back in the ranks and partnering (Local Timings) Andros Townsend up front, the winger quickly demon- It was the kind of goal that in normal circumstances N’Golo Kante-another hamstring casualty-was missed. strating he had the capacity to worry the Chelsea backline. would be quickly forgotten, but the reaction from within Palace could sense they had an opportunity to claim a He was not alone in that as Hodgson’s side quickly pressed Selhurst Park confirmed the strike’s significance. morale-boosting win and restored their lead immediately ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE the reigning champions back on their heels, particularly Palace, though, are not in desperate trouble for nothing before half-time after Mamadou Sakho stepped up from Brighton & Hove Albion v Everton 15:30 when Patrick van Aanholt found space on the left to deliver and they quickly demonstrated the side of their game that the backline to dispossess Willian and release Zaha inside beIN SPORTS HD 2 has been far more prominent this season when they gifted the Chelsea box. —AFP Southampton v Newcastle United 18:00 a testing low cross. The breakthrough, though, came from beIN SPORTS HD 2 SPANISH LEAGUE Eibar v Deportivo La Coruna 13:00 beIN SPORTS HD 3 Girona v Villarreal 17:15 beIN SPORTS HD 3 Ronaldo gives Real Malaga v Leganes 19:30 beIN SPORTS HD 3 Real Betis v Valencia 21:45 Madrid 2-1 win at beIN SPORTS HD 3 ITALIAN LEAGUE Getafe in La Liga Fiorentina v Udinese Calcio 13:30 beIN SPORTS HD 4 Bologna v Spal 16:00 MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo saved Real Madrid from beIN SPORTS HD 10 Sampdoria v Atalanta 16:00 another setback in the Spanish league by scoring late to beIN SPORTS HD 4 beat Getafe 2-1 yesterday.